Terminal connecter for spark plugs



Dec. 6, 192 7.

A. CHAMPION TERMINAL CONNECTER FOR SPARK PLUGS Filed July 20. 19 25 Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT CHAMPION, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN OR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMPANY OF MICHIGAN.

TERMINAL CONN ECTER FOR SPARK PLUGS.

Application filed July 20, 1925. Serial No. 44,762.

My invention relates to terminal connecters designed especially for connecting an end of a supply cable leading to a spark plug to the central insulated electrode thereof; although the connector may be used in other relations, and in fact wherever it becomes necessarv to provide a secure and readily detachable connection between the plied, and in which enhanced holding action is secured by the resilience of the comparatively thick and resilient rubber insulating covering with which high tension supply cables are commonly provided; to provide an improved connecter which may be readily and cheaply made from a suitably shaped sheet metal blank, by subjecting the same to proper bending and shaping operations; and to otherwise improve upon terminal c0nnccters of the type or class to which my invention relates.

The drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification illustrates the preferred form of my invention, although the same may be embodied in other forms; and the concluding claims enumerate the particular features wherein my invention consists,

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing my improved connecter in elevation for the most part, and as used to fasten the end of a high tension supply conductor or cable to the central electrode of a spark plug.

Figure 2 is a view showing a sectionupon a plane indicated by the line 22, Figure 1, looking up.

Figures 3 and 4 are'views showing the connecter alone, and unattached to the plugelectrode. I

Figure 5 is a view showing the sheet metal blank, of spring material such as hard brass, from which the connector shown in Figures 1 to at is made; the view showing'the connecter developed.

Figure 6 is a. view similar to Figure 1, but showing another form of my invention.

Figure 7 is a view showing the end of the connecter shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a View showing the sheet metal blank or development from which the connecter shown in Figures 6 and 7 is made.

Referring now Figures 1 t0 4 thereof, my improved connecter comprises a tubular base portion 10 which receives the end of the supply conductor 11. and the wall of which base is forced into permanent holding engagement with the comparatively thick insulating covering of the metallic conductor 12 of the conductor, during the securing of the connecter in place upon the end aforesaid. Figure 4 shows how the insulating covering is deformed more or le s as the base 10 is compressed, by the use of a suitable tool or device, and forced into holding engagement with the insulating covering, which is ordinarily made of a rubber composition and is quite soft during the act of fastening the connecter to the supply conductor; with the result that after the connecter is fastened to the end of the supply cable said resilient covering is held in a state of compression, and acts as a resilient member or spring to press the parts of the connecter int-0 engagement with the terminal which it engages. The connecter as a whole, because it is made from a springy material such, for example, as hard sheet brass, is as a matter of course resilient to a certain degree; but a considerable part of the resilience inherent in the connecter when assembled and ready for use is due to the thick and resilient insulating covering, held in a stat-e of compression by the tubular base aforesaid, of the high tension cable to the end of which the connecter to the drawing, and first to is fastened. The necessal'y electrical connection between the base 10 and thehcore 12 may be provided for in various ways as, for example, by forcing a out free spur 13 of the wall ofhe base inward and causing its extremity to engage the core, as will "be understood from Figure 1 of the drawing.

Extending substantially at right angles from one side of the base portion, referring to Figure 4, is 'a tubular steady ng portion 14 having an internal diameter slightly eater than that of the terminal with which t e connector is designed to be used; so that when the connector is in use the steadying member fits the terminal closely, and pro-- vents wobbling movement of the connector. The length of this tubular portion may be varied with corresponding Vt1ltltl0l1 1n the degree of steadying of the connector as a whole and the adjacent end of the supply conductor or cable; it being obvious that the greater the length of said 1ne1nber, and the more closely it fits about the terminal, the less the lateral movement of the connecter will be.

Extending also from the base at the side opposite that from which the steadying portion aforesaid extends and alongside and approximately parallel with said portion, is an arm 15 the end 16 of which is bent at right angles, and lies adjacent the free end of the steadying portion 15%; said bent end having a. hole 17 therein in line with the axis of the tubular steadying portion of the connector.

The portion 18 of the base with which the steadying member 1a and arm 15 merge is preferably out free from the rest thereof by slots 19, so that the sides of the base above the steadying member and arm may move in and out slightly without communicating their motion to the other portion 20 of the base which remains tightly clamped upon the insulating covering of the supply conductor.

In view of the premises it will be appreciated that when the connector is not las toned to the spark plug or other terminal the tubular steadying portion and the arm there-- 01 stand at an angle to one another, as shown in Figures 3 and a, due in part to the resilience inherent in the connector and in part to the resilience of the insulation of the supply conductor. Said parts, however, upon being grasped in the hand may be readily pressed toward one another to bring the hole 17 into line with the axis of the tubular steadying member; whereupon the connector may be placedv upon the terminal 21 and, upon being relieved from the pressure exerted by the fingers, will be held in place there upon by the clamping action due to the resilience of the insulating covering and to its own resilience. The terminal 21 is shown as threaded, and a more secure holding action thereby results. Spark plug terminals,

however, are commonly threaded; and my invention does not include the threads, and may in fact be used with smooth, or with terminals roughened otherwise than by threads.

As stated, Figure 5 shows the spring sheet metal. bank from which the connector shown in Figures 1 m4 is made, the same be ing obviously a development of the connector. The central portion 100 of the blank forms the base 10,"the parts 180 and 200 thereof which form the parts 18 and 20 of the base being separated by the slots 19; while the steadying portion 14 and arm 15 of the connector are formed from the portions 1 10 and 150 of the blank.

The form of my invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 operatesin substantially the same way as the form hereinbefore described and explained, but differs therefrom in that the tubular steadying portion 22 of this second form, and the arm 23, extend substan tially in line with the base portion 24 thereof, instead of substantially at right angles to the base. In this form the end 25 of the arm 23 is bent at right angles, and is prhvided with a hole 26 arranged in line with the axes of the steadying portion. In this form and while the resilient action of the connector is due to the resilience of both the connector itself and of the insulating covering of the supply cable 11, the connector as a whole is somewhat stiffer than the form first described because the arm and steadying portion are not free to move relative to the base to as great a degree as in the form first described; such lrecdom of movement in the form first described being due to the slots 19 as will be appreciated.

This second form of my invention is made from the blank shown in Figure 8 wherein the part 210 provides "for the base 24:, the part 5230 for the arm 23, and the part 220 for the tubular steadying portion 22 of the connecter, as will be appreciated.

Having thus described and explained my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A. resilient terminal connector comprising a tubular base portion; a tubular steadying portion corresponding in diameter, approximately, with the diameter of: a termi nal with which said connector is designed for use, and the length of which steadying portion is substantially greater than its diameter, said tubular steadying portion cw tending from said base; and an arm extending from said base alongside of and the end oi which is arranged substantially at right angles to and lies adjacent the free end of said steadying portion; said end being provided with a hole located in line with the axis of said tubular stcadying portion.

2. A resilient terminal connector comprising a tubular base portion; a tubular steadying portion corresponding in diameter, aptially at right angles to, and lies adjacent the proximately, with the diameter of a terminal free end of said steadylng portion; said end i with which said connecter is designed for being provided with a hole located in line use, and the length of which steadying porwith the axis of said steadying portion, and

5 tion is substantially greater than its diamesaid base portion being provided with slots 15 ter, said tubular steadying portion being inwhereby said steadying portion and said arm tegral with and extending substantially at are partially separated from said base right angles to said base; and an arm inte- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. gral with said base and extending alongside 10 of and the end of which is arranged substan- ALBERT CHAMPION. 

